MALAYSIAN United Democratic Alliance (Muda) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) have forged a partnership ahead of the state elections.

In a joint press conference, both parties’ leaders declared that they hoped their partnership would pave the way for a new kind of politics in the country.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said both agreed not to clash over seats.

“Aside from not overlapping on seats, we want to bring a new kind of politics not based on race or religion that is neither divisive nor manipulative,” said Jeyakumar in a press conference that was live-streamed on social media.

“This is just the first step and we hope we can work together to bring new politics that are much cleaner for our country. I’m looking forward to it.”

Syed Saddiq said the electoral understanding was based on five thrusts – rejecting racial politics, fighting for the needs of the majority and the discriminated, pure democracy values, balanced and inclusive development, and environmental issues, including green policies and climate change.

“The big political blocs may want to make us look small, but our idealism, energy and ambition to build a nation with integrity is huge,” he said.

Both party leaders hoped the partnership would extend beyond the six state elections next month.

Muda’s partnership with PSM comes following the party’s decision to go solo in the polls after Pakatan Harapan spurned its overtures to join the pact.

Muda on Thursday announced its first batch of four candidates for the elections, which included three women – Thanusha Ramanieswaran, Saiyidah Izzati Nur Razak Maideen and Melanie Ting Yi-Hlin.

Party secretary-general and founding member Amir Hariri Abd Hadi will contest in Seri Serdang, a state seat under the Puchong parliamentary constituency.

Syaidiyah Izzati will be fielded in Batu Tiga under Shah Alam; Thanusha, in Sentosa under Kota Raja; and Ting, in Bukit Antarabangsa under Ampang.

PSM has also announced that Sivaranjani Manickam will be its candidate for the Meru seat.

All the seats are in Selangor.

Apart from Selangor, five other states – Negri Sembilan , Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – will simultaneously go to the polls on August 12. – July 15, 2023.